With longer days, many people get chronic Hawaiian spring fever. This means being close to nature with plants.
Hydrangeas come with blue, pink or white flowers. They are temporarily available from now until Mother’s Day. Hydrangeas generally grow in cool, humid areas like Volcano and Waimea, but can be grown almost anywhere if there is adequate moisture and shade in sunny, low-lying locations.
This is also the best time to grow them from cuttings. In the highlands, however, you can start with cuttings almost anytime.
Also, look for members of the rhododendron family. In Hawaii, these attractive garden shrubs are popular in cool Mauka areas. This spring, the plants are also available as potted plants at our local garden and nurseries.
If you are looking for a spring color to brighten up your home or garden, azaleas and tropical vireya rhododendrons are a natural color. They make great gifts for Mother’s Day coming in just a few weeks. In fact, they are perfect for a gift almost anytime, as living gifts are gifts from Aloha.
Azaleas and vireyas are usually found in cool, humid regions. Some can even be found on high mountains. Many species in this group are adapted to temperate regions, but some have found Hawaii to be a good place to live, particularly the Vireyas.
Some are terrestrial and some are epiphytic.
Some that you can find in the market bloom in red, white, pink, yellow, and even mixtures of white-pink and white-red. They grow relatively slowly in Hawaii. That is why a gift from an azalea is something special. Once you’ve bought your live spring bouquets, they are easy to care for if you follow a few simple rules.
The plants look healthy with occasional washing of the leaves. This will prevent insects and mites from building up. Generally, plants need to be thoroughly soaked at least once a week. Plants may need more water in warmer temperatures or in air conditioning. Make sure the pot is adequately drained.
Protect the plants from living crickets from direct sunlight and hot or windy areas. In cool Mauka areas, they can be placed in the sun.
They like their food, which is served on a regular basis. Special acidic azalea fertilizers are available. The best suggestion for feeding is to follow the directions on the plant food container.
Here are some tips for diagnosing system problems.
Brown tips or burned edges can mean you’ve applied too much fertilizer, allowed the plant roots to dry out, or let the wind burn the plant.
Yellowed leaves indicate overwatering, poor drainage, or poor soil aeration. Small leaves indicate a dense or heavy soil mix, lack of fertilizer, or insufficient moisture.
Weak growth or a light green color on otherwise healthy foliage indicate too much light, lack of fertilizer, root rot or poor root systems. Yellowing, wilting, or soft growth means too much heat or root damage.
Remember, most need acidic soil. If you plan to plant or repot them in the garden, give the plants a mixture that is high in peat moss. Make sure you don’t plant them in soils that are high in calcium. Avoid planting in concrete containers, near sidewalks, or concrete foundations as these contain calcium and cause nutrient deficiencies. Also, keep in mind that they shouldn’t be planted near the ocean or in hot, dry, or windy areas.
If you want to learn more about the Rhododendron family, head to the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo, just a few miles from Hilo. There is a large collection of vireya or tropical rhododendrons on display.
We are also fortunate to have a chapter of the American Rhododendron Society here that meets monthly to share information about the propagation and care of plants.
However, due to pandemic restrictions, meetings are limited, but you can still network with members of the local chapter. For more information, please contact Sherla Bertelmann at 966-9225 or sbertelmann@hawaii.rr.com.
A chapter meeting will be held at President Lucy Moody’s home in Leilani Estates this Sunday, April 18. Call them at 965-9114 for directions. Lucy’s email address is lucymoody44@gmail.com.
